Twin plug connector having a coupling pin



A ril 30, 1968 s. MANOS 3,

TWIN PLUG CONNECTOR HAVING A COUPLING PIN Filed Sept. 1, 1965 FIG.

FIG-3 lNl/ENTOR By $.MANOS A T TO/PNEV United States Patent 3,381,259TWIN PLUG CONNECTOR HAVING A COUPLING PIN Steven Manos, Bayonne, N.J.,assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Filed Sept. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 484,341 4 Claims.(Cl. 339-64) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A twin plug connector isdisclosed in which two plugs are positioned in a case by a coupling pin.

This invention pertains to electrical connectors and relatesparticularly to connectors containing self-aligning or floating plugs.

Devices of the type to which this invention applies are typically usedfor making manual connections between circuits. For example, in thetelephone industry many circuits are terminated in jacks. Connectionsinto and between such circuits are made by inserting connector plugsinto the jacks.

One commonly used connector plug is the two-prong or twin plug type. Atwin plug connector typically comprises two plug bodies mountedparalllel to each other in a plug case. In order for the twin plugconnector to function properly, the plug body must not be able to moveinand out of the plug case but must be capable of some lateral movement.If the plug bodies are able to move in and out of the plug case, thenthey will be unable to engage properly when inserted into jacks. On theother hand, if the plug bodies are unable to move laterally within theplug case, small variations in the center-tocenter spacing between jackswill make insertion of the twin plug connector difficult if notimpossible.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a twin plugconnector wherein the plug bodies are unable to move in and out but areable to move laterally within the housing in which they are mounted.

It is still another object of this invention to improve the reliabilityof twin plug connectors.

It is another object of this invention to reduce the cost of making twinplug connectors.

A feature of this invention is a double-ended coupling pin wherein thecenter of the pin is held by a housing containing a pair of plugs andthe ends of the pin hold the plugs in place within the housing.

According to one embodiment of this invention, twin plug bodies aremounted in a plug case and held in place by a coupling pin. The plugcase contains two chambers for receiving plug bodies and a passageconnecting the two chambers for receiving the coupling pin. The plugbodies fit loosely in the chambers in the plug case and each plug bodyhas a hole in its side for receiving one end of the coupling pin. Thecoupling pin is mounted in the passage in the plug case and its endshold the plug bodies against in and out movement while permittingsidewise movement within the plug case.

Other objects and features of this invention will become readilyapparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a twin plug connector made in accordancewith this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevtaion view of the twin plug connector shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the twin plug connector shown in FIG. 1with the outer cover removed and illustrating therein a coupling pin andtwo plugs in which one of the plugs has portions broken away; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coupling pin.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a twin plug connector 10 is shown therein whichcomprises a plug case 11, two plugs 12 and 13, and mounting screws 14.The plug case 11 can be made from any suitable material such as, forexample, aluminum. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the plug case 11 isconveniently divided into two parts. Moreover, the plug case 11 containstwo chambers 15 and 16 into which the plugs 12 and 13 fit, respectively.

In the embodiment being described the plugs 12 and 13 are cylindrical asare the chambers 15 and 16. Neither, however, need be confined to thisconfiguration. In any event, the perimeter of the chambers 15 and 16must be somewhat larger than the perimeter of the plugs 12 and 13 inorder to allow the plugs to move laterally or sidewise when the twoparts of the plug case 11 are joined together.

As shown in FIG. 3, the chambers 15 and 16 do not extend entirelythrough the plug case 11 but, instead, join each other to form aU-shaped channel which defines a boss 17. The boss 17 contains mountingholes 18 and two passages 19. The mounting holes 18 are arranged tocooperate with the screws 14 to hold the two parts of the plug case 11together. In the embodiment illustrated, the screws 14 extend throughthe holes 18 and are held in place by threaded nuts (not shown). Thepassages 19 connect the chambers 15 and 16.

The plugs 12 and 13 can be made of any electrically conducting materialsuch as copper. In the embodiment being described, both plugs areidentical so a description of one serves as a description of the other.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the plug 12 is designed for connection into acoaxial circuit. It is of typical coaxial construction and comprises anouter sleeve 20, an inner conductor 21, and saparators similar toseparator 22. The outer sleeve 20 and the inner conductor 21 can be madeof any electrically conducting material such as copper or brass. Theseparator 22 can be made of any insulating material such as plastic, andas many as desired can be used.

The outer sleeve 20 is designed to be plugged into a jack at one end andto be connected to an electrical circuit at the other end, as, forexample, to the short-circuit conductor 23 illustrated in FIG. 3. Inaddition, the outer sleeve 20 includes a hole 24 in one side foraccepting a projection from a coupling pin 30.

The coupling pin 30, as illustrated in FIG. 4, comprises a stud made upof a body 31 having projections 32 and 33 protruding from each end. Thecoupling pin 30 can be made of any material such as metal or plastic. Itis desirable, however, that the material be one which has a high shearstrength. Futrhermore, it can be regular in shape such as cylindrical orrectangular, or it can be irregular depending on the applicationdesired.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the twin plug connector 10 is assembled,the coupling pin 30 islocated in one of the passages 19. The particularpassage 19 in which the coupling pin 30 is located will be determined bythe type of plugs being used. The Walls of the passage 19 hold the body31 in place while the projection 32 extends into the hole 34 in the plug12 and the projection 33 extends into a similar hole in the plug 13.Thus, when the two parts of the plug case 11 are joined together, theprojections 32 and 33 on the connecting pin 30 prevent the plugs 12 and13 from moving in and out while allowing lateral or floating movement ofthe plugs in the space between the walls of the chambers 15 and 16.

Accordingly, there has been herein disclosed an electrical connectorcontaining self-aligning twin plugs which are unable to move in and outof the plug case in which they are mounted but are capable of lateral orsidewise movement to accumulate misaligned jacks. Although a specificembodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will beunderstood that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe spirit of this invention and within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a twin plug connector adaptable for use with misaligned jacks, thecombination comprising:

a plug case having two chambers connected by a plurality of passages;

a pair of plugs mounted loosely in said chambers, each of said plugshaving a hole in one side; and

a unitary coupling pin having a body and two end projections, said bodybeing positioned in one of said passages and each of said projectionsextending into a hole in a plug whereby said plugs are firmly mounted insaid plug case but can readily adapt to misaligned jacks.

2. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body and endprojections of said coupling pin are cylindrical.

3. A twin plug coaxial connector adaptable for use with misaligned jackscomprising:

a plug case having two parallel chambers connected by a cylindricalpassage;

a pair of plugs mounted loosely in said chambers, each of said plugshaving an inner conductor and an outer conductor spaced from each otherby an insulating separator, said outer conductor having a hole therein;

a coupling pin having a cylindrical body and two cylindrical endprojections extending out of and having a smaller diameter than saidbody, said body being positioned in said passage and each of saidprojec- .4 tions extending into a hole in a plug whereby said plugs arefirmly mounted in said plug case but can readily adapt to misalignedjacks;

means for connecting said plugs to an electrical circuit.

4. In a twin plug connector adaptable for use with misaligned jaeks, thecombination comprising:

a plug case having two chambers connected by a passage;

a pair of plugs mounted loosely in said chambers, each said plugs havingan inner conductor and an outer conductor spaced from each other by aninsulating separator, said outer conductor having a hole therein;

a unitary coupling pin having a body and two end projections, said bodybeing positioned in said passage and each of said projections extendinginto one of said holes whereby said plugs are firmly mounted in saidplug case but can readily be adapted to misaligned jacks; and

means for adjusting the position of said coupling pin within said plugcase.

FOREIGN PATENTS 345,879 12/1921 Germany.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner.

